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Study Abroad Programs

You Can Study Abroad!

A recent MCB alumna, Caitlin Sorensen, said the following about studying abroad in Denmark.

"Study abroad has been helpful in so many aspects of my life- it helped me get a job! When I studied abroad in Copenhagen, I was accepted to the Human Biology Program at the Pannum Institute, a leading biology program through The University of Copenhagen. The 3rd year Cell Biology course that I took gave me my first exposure to world class equipment, techniques, and theories in cell biology and immunology. In fact, it ended up counting as my MCB 150L requirement due to the large amount of lab work. When I started applying to research positions, my experience at University of Copenhagen was a large determining factor in my acceptance to a UCSF immunology lab. My class abroad required a great deal of independent project planning, group work, and PI interaction- all of which are instrumental to my Staff Research Associate position in the Pathology Department at UCSF. Studying abroad in Denmark offered me a wealth of courses suitable for MCB, and even presented me with additional laboratory knowledge could not have received in a classroom setting at Cal."

Many students choose to spend a summer, one, or two semesters abroad during their undergraduate studies at Cal. MCB students have participated in study abroad programs in Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Spain, France, Germany, Scotland, England, Denmark, New Zealand, China, Chile, Brazil, and many other countries.

Lower division MCB requirements such as physics, chemistry, and biology can be satisfied through the UC Education Abroad Program. With your faculty advisor's approval, the MCB department may also accept up to two appropriate courses from abroad toward your MCB upper division major requirements. With careful early planning, it is possible to go abroad your sophomore, junior, or senior year and still graduate in eight or nine semesters.

There are a number of useful offices and websites on campus that can help you identify programs of interest to you and incorporate a study abroad experience into your academic plan.